AstraZeneca to coordinate, but not integrate MedImmune

NEW YORK AstraZeneca plans on running its new $15.6 billion biotech company MedImmune separately, but will coordinate its research to make sure the two companies are not duplicating efforts, the Wall Street Journal reported.

AstraZeneca officials said that they set up an executive R&D committee that will coordinate work between the two companies, which will set up research groups, and encourage rank and file scientists on both sides to swap information regularly.

A six-person R&D committee run by John Patterson, executive director of drug development at AstraZeneca, will meet regularly to set strategy for research, AstraZeneca officials said. The committee will help decide which disease targets both research groups will focus on, taking into account whether the disease would be better attacked with a small-molecule or large-molecule drug. A few AstraZeneca marketing officials will also sit on that board to help set marketing strategy for potential drugs at an early stage.

CVS to offer flu vaccinations in more than 4,000 stores

WOONSOCKET, R.I. CVS/pharmacy plans to help Americans stay healthy by offering flu vaccinations in over 4,000 of its stores, the company said Wednesday.

The flu vaccinations, which will be offered to customers by Oct. 1, will vary in cost based on location. Vaccines for Medicare Part B beneficiaries who present their Medicare Card will be available at no charge, provided they have not assigned their Medicare benefits to a private Health Maintenance Organization. The offer to receive the flu shots will run through November.

“The annual flu shot clinics at CVS/pharmacy are part of our commitment to help communities stay healthy,” said Papatya Tankut, R.Ph., Vice President of Pharmacy Professional Services at CVS/pharmacy. “By offering convenient locations for flu vaccinations, we’re providing additional opportunities for people across the country to get vaccinated before the peak flu season begins.”

Last year, nearly 400,000 people received flu shots at CVS/pharmacy.

It is strongly recommended people ages 50 and older, and/or have chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma, receive a yearly flu vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Adams, Lipocine to develop new cough medicines

CHESTER, N.J. Lipocine and Adams Respiratory Therapeutics have entered in an agreement to develop new prescription adult cough products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Adams receives exclusive rights from Lipocine to develop and market multiple prescription adult cough products. Adams will be responsible for performing clinical development, regulatory submission, manufacture, and commercial operations. Lipocine will be responsible for completing the product development work.

Lipocine will have the opportunity to receive reimbursements and payments in exchange for completing development milestones. “Given the large and growing size of the respiratory market, and how patients can benefit from enhanced dosage forms and regimens, we are very pleased to partner with Adams, a company highly respected for its commercialization accomplishments,” said Dr. Mahesh Patel, president and chief executive officer of Lipocine.

As part of a panel at the recent Drug Store News Industry Issues Summit, officials from Walmart and Kroger shared the ways the two organizations go about taking a collaborative approach to health care.

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